THE date for trial of two Northern Ireland men facing charges in, connection with a major arms find in Dublin last year was set as June 11th in the Special Criminal Court yesterday.
Mr Sean Braniff (41), of Juniper Court, Twinbrook, Belfast, and Mr Anthony Patrick Gorman (25), of Dalton Road, Armagh, face charges connected with the arms haul.
Mr Braniff was extradited from Northern Ireland last month after he failed to turn up at the court in January.
The court has issued warrants for the arrest of two other Northern Ireland men, Mr Hugh Torney (41), of Springfield Road, Belfast, and Mr Dessie McCleary (41), of no fixed address, who also failed to appear last January.
A statement read to the court last year on behalf of the four men claimed that they had influenced the INLA to suspend its military operations in July 1994.
The men are charged with possessing arms at Blackhall, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, with intent to endanger life or to enable another person to endanger life on April 4th last year, and with having the buns for an unlawful purpose.
They are also charged with having ammunition with intent to endanger life and for an unlawful purpose on the same date.
Mr Kenneth Mills SC, prosecuting, said there were 40 witnesses in the trial, which is expected to last three days.
The court remanded Mr Gorman on continuing bail and Mr Braniff in custody until June 11th.